Push-button card



Feb. 4, 1969 L. c. woYcE, JR

PUSHBUTTON CARD Filed March' l, 1967 Feb. 4, 1969 L.. c. woYcE, JR 3,425,619

` PUSH-BUTTON CARD Filed March l, 1967 sheet 3 @f2 l 26 /27 25 v Q *N 52 mi@ 20/ v F/Gf 26'* 27 I Il@ WL@ l F769 PUS UTTON TO NEW PUSH

BUTTON I NVENTOR Lou/s c. Worcf, ./R.

PUSH BUTTON TO RENEW United States Patent O 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mailing card construction formed from a single blank having at least two portions each of which has a partially cut-out area arranged so that when the several portions are folded and secured adjacent one another, the cut out areas are superimposed. When the first cut-out area is depressed, the second cut-out area comes into view by partially covering the first cut-out area.

Brief summary of invention This invention relates to a mailing card construction for carrying advertisements and for soliciting and receiving information. In one form, this card design has been used in the magazine publishing industry to solicit new, and, renew old magazine subscriptions. However, the uses to which the unique design may be put are varied and are limited only by ones imagination.

In the preferred form, the present mailing card design employs a push button style which results in a clever and novel means for conveying information. As a means for attracting attention, and by employing a unique attention attracting mechanism, the card design allows the addressee to select his or her decision by simply pressing a simulated button. This idea, of course, is reminiscent of the old panic button clic-he.

The prior art, represented by the types of mailing cards now used in the magazine subscription industry, has always attempted to catch the publics eye either by a cleverly worded slogan or by some form of a mailing card employing a Slot combined with a coin-like element to be inserted in the slot for indicating whether or not a subscription was desired. Generally, the prior art mailing cards were formed from a single Vblank having two portions One portion contained the coin-like element which could be separated therefrom and inserted into one of two slots located in the opposite portion to indicate whether or not a subscription was desired. The idea intended was to offer the addressee a choice by employing as an attention attracting mechanism the coin and slot arrangement. Mailing cards of this general nature have been the standard of the industry.

The novel arrangement of my mailing card design also uses a single blank of material having at least two portions which are folded and secured adjacent one another. However, my design does not require the same amount of effort to indicate the desired choice as required by the prior art mailing cards. It is not necessary, for instance, with the mailing card of my invention to separate from the card a portion and then physically inser-t this portion into -a slot provided therefor. The manner in which my mailing card is assembled allows the addressee to simply depress a simulated button in answer to a question, and, upon depressing the button, another portion of the card comes into view to give the desired answer. The addressee then need only return the mailing card to the sender to complete the transaction. In the advertising industry, the psychology involved with obtaining the attention of the public is very much dependent on the manner in which their attention is captured. It is then necessary to convince the public to succumb to the thing being promoted. This latter requirement is usually accomplished by means of the mechanism employed. The utility of my device, therefore, resides in the simplicity of my attracting mechanism whereby the user of the card may obtain the desired information from the addressee.

The two major portions of my novel mailing card each contain a partially cut-out area which remains attached to its respective portion at one edge thereof.. The portions of the card are then folded and glued so that the cut-out areas become superimposed over one another. This construction provides an arrangement whereby when the first cut-out area is depressed, the second cut-out area comes into View by partially covering the first cut-out area. The unique method preferred for arranging the cut-out areas, inscribing the legends thereon, and, gluing the portions of the card allows the second cut-out area to spring into view when the first cut-out area is depressed.

Several illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, however, it should be noted that. these illustrations are not intended to show every .possible configuration.

Brief description of drawing FIGURES 1-8 are plan views of some of the different forms my novel mailing card blank may take;

FIGURE 9 shows the complete mailing card prior to being pushed;

FIGURE 10 shows the card of FIGURE 9 after the push but-ton has been pushed.

Detailed description The mailing card blanks shown in FIGURES 1, 3, 4 and 6 require only one fold, but, must be run through the printing presses twice in order to print information 0n both sides of the blank. The double printing is necessary because, upon folding one portion adjacent the other portion, the forward projected side of of the folded portion becomes inverted rendering the opposite side thereof projected forward. On the contrary, the card blanks of FIG- URES 2, 5, 7, and 8 must be folded twice and printed once, or on one side only. Only one printing is necessary because the forward projected side of the folded portion remains forwardly projected when folded twice. The desirability of one form over the other would be a matter of taste and economics depending upon Ithe use to which the mailing cards were to be put.

FIGURE 1 shows a mailing card blank 10 having a major portion 11 and a minor portion 12 separated along a fold line 13. The larger portion 11 contains a partially cut-out area 14 preferably of semi-circular shape defined by cut `line 16, while remaining attached at its lower edge about an arc of approximately sixty degrees, and the 4smaller portion 12 has a similar cut-out area 15 which remains attached at its upper edge. When the two portions of the mailing card are folded with respect to one another in overlapping engagement and glued in position, the two cut-out areas 14, 1S assume a superimposed relationship. The smaller portion 12 is folded behind the larger portion 11 and glued in position in the FIGURE 1 embodiment. As a result of this step, the back side of smaller portion 12 will face forward and lie beneath the cut-out area 14. The cut-out areas are preferably sized so that when the first area 14 is depressed, it will be restrained slightly by the second area 15, but, only so long as the respective areas remain in engagement with one another. When area 14 is depressed far enough so that its upper edge will pass under the lower edge 18 of cut-out area 15, the cut-out 15 will then spring `forward so as to partially cover the first area 14. In essence, the first piece of cut-out area 14 is used to flip the second piece of cut-out area 15 into View. The flipping action occurs as a result of the shape of the second partially cut-out area and the manner in which it remains secured to the smaller portion 12. The rst area 14 preferably contains the legend Push Button or Panic Button and the second area 15 indicates t-he answer to a question asked elsewhere on the card. It should be noted that the indicia on the second cut-out area 15 is required to be printed on the back side of the mailing card so that when it is folded the printing will face forward. The embodiment of FIGURES l and 3 are similar, requiring printing on both sides with the type set the same way, and, the embodiments of FIG- URES 4 and 6 are printed both sides but with reversed type.

In the preferred embodiment of my novel mailing card, the respective cut-out areas are of different shapes to allow one to displace and be replaced by the other. As shown in FIGURE 1, the first cut-out area 14 is semicircular in shape as defined by the cut line at 16, and remains attached to the card at one edge thereof over an approximately sixty degree arc. The second cut-out area 15 takes the shape of a rectangle having one free edge 18. It remains attached to the card at its opposite edge 19 4and the sides are cut at 17. This form is preferred for the different embodiments disclosed. One skilled in the art could, of course, alter these preferred shapes depending on the desired results. Additionally, in some cases, different portions of the respective cut-outs will remain attached so that, for instance, when the mailing card is properly folded and glued, the lower edge of the first cutout will engage the upper edge of the second cut-out (see FIGURE 4).

Since the embodiments of FIGURES l, 3, 4 and 6 each require only one fold, the detailed description of FIG- URE l set out hereinabove can be applied with certain exceptions to the other similar figures. It is noted that FIGURE 3 differs from FIGURE l in that the portion 12 of the mailing `card is as wide as the card itself. The embodiment of FIGURE 4 shows the portion 12 as being a part of the portion 11 of the mailing card, resulting in a non-rectangular final product. FIGURE 6 shows the card portions 11, 12 to be of equal length.

The embodiments of FIGURES 2, 5, 7 and 8 each require two fold lines and several cuts. FIGURE 2 will be described in detail as exemplary of these different modifcations. The major part of the mailing card of FIGURE 2 designated 20 contains the first partially cut-out area 21 defined by cut 36 preferably of semicircular shape attached at its lower edge 22 about an arc of approximately 60 degrees. The minor part of the card designated 24 is joined to part along a fold line 25 and contains two equal sized seg-ments 26, 27 joined along a fold line 28. The second cut-out area 30 in this embodiment is formed from a portion of both segments 26, 27 of the minor part. Cutout area 30 is preferably of rectangular or square shape defined with a free edge along the fold line 28, and by cuts at 32, 34. The second cut-out area 30 remains attached, of course, along its side 35 opposite the fold line 28. Only one-half of the second cut-out area 30 is printed because when it is folded along line 28, then folded a second time along line 25 and glued in position, just one-half will be visible upon depressing the first cut-out area 21. In the embodiment disclosed in FIGURE 2, and after the lmailing card is properly folded and glued, when area 21 is depressed far enough to allow its upper edge to pass behind the lower free edge of area (defined by fold line 28) the second area 30 will then snap into position in front of the first cut-out area 21 to render visible an answer to a question asked elsewhere on the mailing card.

Since the embodiments of FIGURES 5, 7 and 8 each are made up of a major card part and a double folded minor card part the same detailed description hereinbe- -fore set out for FIGURE 2 applies. FIGURE 5 differs from FIGURE 2 in showing the first cut-out area 21 attached at its upper edge thereof with the seg-ments 26, 27

forming the second cut out area 30 having a free edge when folded opposite fold line 25. In this embodiment the indicia on the second cut-out area is printed reversed from that on the semi-circular cut-out 21 and on segment 26. The embodiment of FIGURE 7 requires indicia on both cut-outs 21 and 30 which is printed in the same upright manner. The indicia for cut-out 30 is printed only on elemen-t 27. FIGURE 8 like FIGURE 5 shows an embodiment requiring reversed printing and the cut-out 21 attached at its upper edge. The indicia for cut-out 30 of the FIGURE 8 embodiment is printed only on segment 27.

FIGURES 9 and l0 show the completed mailing card of FIGURE l before and after the PUSH BUTTON has been pushed. As will be noted from the drawing the card itself carries certain indicia or advertisements on the larger portion thereof with the legend PUSH BUT- TON on the semicircular cut-out 14. The details of FIG- URE l0 show the first cut-out as being partially covered by the second cut-out which has now come into vieuI subsequent to pushing the rst cut-out. The second cut-out carries indicia designating an answer to the statement printed on the card. This particular embodiment is illustrated as a typical sample and is not to be construed as limiting my invention.

The mailing cards of my invention are manufactured from a single blank of board which is cut in a die-cutting press to the proper shape and provided with the cuts necessary to form the partially cut-out areas. The cards are also provided with fold lines whereby the blanks can be folded and glued in final form.

The specific details of construction may be considerably varied from those herein shown and described without involving any departure from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages inherent therein. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mailing card formed from a single blank of material comprising:

(a) at least two portions separated from one another by a fold line;

(b) a first partially cut-out area of semi-circular shape formed in one portion;

(c) a second partially cut-out area of rectangular shape formed in the other portion;

( l) said partially cut-out areas having substantially free edges with a remaining edge of each still attached to the respective card portion;

(2) said attached edges of the partially cut-out areas being opposite one another leaving the free edges of said cut-out areas in overlapping engagement when the card portions are folded and glued adjacent one another to expose the first cut-out area, so that depression of lsaid first cut-out area will be resisted until the free edge thereof passes behind the free edge of the second cut-out area to bring the latter into view by partially covering the first cut-out area.

2. A mailing card formed from a single blank of material comprising:

(a) a major portion and -a -minor portion separated from one another by a lfold line;

(b) said major portion having a first partially cut-out area of semi-circular shape ydefined by a cut line forming a free edge of substantially greater length than the remaining attached edge;

(c) said minor portion having a second partially cutout area of rectangular shape defined by parallel cut lines extending to one free edge thereof with the opposite edge of said cut-out area remaining attached;

(l) said attached edges of the partially cut-out areas lying opposite one another leaving the free edges of said cut-out areas in overlapping engagement when the card portions are folded and glued adjacent one another to expose the iirst cut-out area, so that depression of the first cutout area will be resisted until the free edge thereof passes behind the free edge of the second cut-out area to bring the latter into view by partially covering the tirst cut-out area.

second partially cut-out area leaving the free edges of said cut-out areas in overlapping engagement when the card portions are folded about said first fold line and glued adjacent one another to expose the first cut-out area, so that depression of the first cut-out area will -be resisted until the free edge thereof passes behind the free edge of the second cut-out area to bring the latter into view by partially covering the iirst cut-out area. l 5. A mailing card formed from a single blank of material comprising:

(a) a major portion and a minor portion separated from one another by a first fold line; (b) said major portion having a iirst partially cut-out area of semi-circular shape defined by a cut line out area of rectangular shape defined by two parallel cut lines and a connecting cut line to form a -free edge having the same length as the* remaining atfor-ming a free edge of substantially greater length than the remaining attached edge;

(c) said minor portion being formed from two integral tached edge; segments separated from one another by a second (1) said attached edges of the partially cut-out lfold line, each integral ses-ment having a partially areas lying opposite one another leaving the cut-out area to form a second cut-out area of recfree edges of Said `Cut-out areas in overlapping tangular shape dened by parallel cut lines extending engagement when the card portions are folded from one segment across the second Ifold line to the and glued adjacent one another t0 expose th 25 second segment whereby said second fold line forms first cut-out area, so that depression of the first a second eut-Out area Vfree edge when the two Sescut-out area Will be resisted until the free edge ments af@ fOlded adjacent 011e another 310mg the thereof passes behind the free edge of the second Second fold line; cut-out area to bring the latter into view by (1) Said attached edge 0f the rSPaTaUY Cut-Out partially covering the first cut-out area. area lying OPPOSe the attached edgeS Of- Said 4. A mailing card formed from a single blank of material comprising: i

(a) major portion and a minor portion separated from one another by a lirst fold line;

(b) said majoi portion having a first partially cut-out 35 area of semi-circular shape defined by a cut line for-ming a free edge of substantially greater length than the remaining attached edge;

(c) said minor portion being -formed from two integral segments separated from one another by a second fold line, each integral segment having a partially cut-out area to form a second cut-out area of rectangular shape defined by parallel cut lines extending to one free edge of said minor portion with the second partially cut-out area leaving the free edges of said cut-out areas in overlapping engagement when the card portions are folded about said first Ifold line and glued adjacent one another to expose the rst cut-out area, so that depression of the first cut-out area will be resisted until the free edge thereof passes behind the free edge of rsaid second cut-out area -to bring the latter into view by partially covering the first cut-out area.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS opposite edge of said cut-out areas remaining at- $11112 n's 229 92'5 tached, said segments and said cut lines being so 2499436 3/1950 Whiteid 229 77 constructed and arranged to become superimposed X one over the other when the two segments are folded DAVID M, BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner. about said second fold line;

(l) said attached edge of the first partially cut-out: U-S- C1 X-R- area :lying opposite the attached edge of said 229-77, 62 

